Power instrument and meter



Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER INSTRUMENT AND METER Application 1ed February 16, 1928. Serial No. 254,915. p

The present invention relates to improvements in power indicators, instruments and meters used in connection with power consuming and power-producing apparatus, par- 5 ticularly steam boilers, for indicating and metering the various operating functions and conditions of said apparatus, for example, the drafts in the various portions of the combustion chamber and passes of a steam boiler furnace, the quantities of steam generated, and the fact that fuel feeding mechanism is in operation, or otherwise, together with its approximate speed, and whether or not a positive pressure exists in the combustion chamber of the boiler furnace. Other functions such as the steam pressure, temperature and rate of flow, together with combustion chamber and iiue gas temperature are to be considered as within the scope of this invention pertaining to metering apparatus; also the position of dampers, valves and other movable elements of said power unit.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in the instrument board of a steam boiler and furnace and consists of a small scale diagrammatic model of the main unit made, as far as practicable, to look like the main unit and appear in operation as the main unit would appear could an observer see the entire unit and its operative elements at one time.

The novel feature of this invention consists in the diagrammatic unit, andthe advantages claimed are that an operator of the usual type not familiar with technicalmatters and incapable of intelligentlyinterpreting the indications of the usual indicators in their true significance can readily judge, by the indications visible on ythe diagrammatic unit, the exact condition existing in the main unit.

AIn subsequent applications, the inventor will describe novel means for recording the indications made on the diagrammatic unit, together with novel means for controlling the operation of the main unit from movable unit. l

' In the drawings, which represent the preferred embodiment of the invention, the single figure represents a cross-section view of a steam boiler and furnace unit, together elements connected with the diagrammaticA `with a diagrammatic representation of the same unit.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a steam boiler and furnace unit is indlcated generally by reference numeral 1. The diagrammatic representation of said unit is indicated generally by reference numeral 2. Ordinarily, a steam-boiler unit includes auxiliaries, such as forced-draft fans, economizers, preheaters, etc., but for the purpose of illustrating this invention the drawings have been made as simple aspossible to avoid confusion, and only one such auxiliary or element has been shown. In the case of the dial grammatic representation, the numerals appliedto the parts of the unit are the same as in the original unit, in order to make the drawing` readily intelligible. The steam boiler and furnace unit consists of a steam boiler 3, and its furnace 4.

'Ihe boiler is shown provided with an nduced draft fan 5 driven by an electric motor 6, havingv starting switches 7. The starting switches are indicated here only diagrammatically because they are common and well 75 understood by those versed in the art. Means yfor varying the speed of the induced-draft fanA motor is indicated by rheostat 8. The steamoutlet of theboiler is indicated by a pipe 9 in which is located a metering Venturi 8o tube nozzle, or orifice of a type common in such practice, indicated by reference numeral 10. A means of measuring the steam output of boiler is indicated by the combination of the above mentioned Venturi tube, or orifice, its connecting tubes 11 and 12 and U tube 13, having the usual scale by which the level of the mercury in the tube may be read.

In'the diagrammatic unit the combustion chamber 4 is sealed by a lining 14,which has an opening 15V communicating to the atmosphere. The side of diagrammatic combustion chamber 4 presented to view, is covered with glass or other transparent material. A small pipe connection 16 is shown for the purpose of conducting steam or other visible vapor into the sealed combustion chamber 4. Also connecting the combustion chamber 4 of the diagrammatic unit `with the combustion chamber 4 of themain unit is the pipe 17 4` It will be understood by those skilled in the art that I have provided a model or diagrammatic representation of a boiler connected to an actual, operating boiler in such manner that the combustion chamber draft in the diagrammatic unit will be equal for practical purposes, to the pressure in the combustion chamber of the malin unit.

Now, for purposes of operation, it is desirable to have the combustiori-chamber pressure as near zero, or neutral, as possible, to prevent the excess infiltration of air into the furnace, and also to prevent the escape of the gases of combustion through openings in the combustion chamber into the room or space enclosing thelurnace. Ithe device shown, the piipe 117 communicates the combustion-chamber :pres- -s-u're in the Amain Aunit to the diagrammatic unit. The opening 15 permits the -gases introduced through the :pipe lr6 to lescape to the atmosphere, Iit the combustion-ohainher Sure is positive, :and also permits ont-side air 'to enter and equalize the combustion chamber pressure in case it is negative. In order to ymake the condition of positive or negative pressure evident to an openator, steam or visible Vvaspor is conducted into 'combitstion chamber 4 fby means of pipe i6. It will then be evident tothe operator, itt vapor i-sescfaping from vent 15 that 'the cem'biisftion chamber pressure is positive and an adjustment of draft condition is necessary. The draftis increased, accordingly, until the vapor no longer escapes from opening 15, indicating that the proper condition exists for the satistactory operation of the main unit.

The means abovedescribed for the observation fof one function of a boiler is, obviously, only one means 3f-accomplishing the same Aresult. In a practical installation, however, a number of such functions will require 4observation. It is, therefore, the Vintent -of this invention to cover any and all means of `accomplishing the result described, for any .and

all functions of power units, as lar as'it may be desirable to apply them.

In general, the operativeness,connection to power lines, rate of speed, position of dampers, valves and :other work-ing Vor moving elements `of power units is intended lto be indicated on the diagrammatic unit ley means genrally described as follows.

The driving motor for 'the induced-draft fan 5 is represented by numeral `6. It is shown connected through its starting switches 7 and controlling rheos'tat 8 #to a ina-in power circuit 18 by conductors 19'. The shunt vlieldof the motor :6 is indicate-d by ythe coil 20. l Across an auxiliary rheostat 31 operated by and inechani'cally'connected to rheostat -8 is connected motor 6 of the diagrammatic unit by means ot `conduct-ors 21. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the voltage drop across the rheostat will be "communicated uto the motor 6 of the diagrammatic unit, Sand that its speed will, therefore, be approximately proportional to that of the corresponding element of the main unit. It will be observed that the motor 6 ol the diagrammatic unit is shown as a series motor which will, therefore. be responsive in speed to the voltage impressed yacross its terminals.

ldT-hile "the above described motors and connections provide an operative system, various .other methods of connections between the 'main 'd'iii'fing Vmotor Aand the diagrammatic motor may be fused. For instance, the main driving motor may be an alternating current motor lof the wou-nd rotor type having connected to its shalt a generator so wound that the voltage produced would be proportion to its speed. -Connected to this vgenerator on the `diagrammatic -unit might be -a motor so wound to respond in speed directly to the voltage yapplied across its terminals. There are other 'obvious means 'of obtaining the desired result and all such are to be considered within the scope of this invention.

i dainperfQQ is shown in the 'connection between furnace outlet and .lan 5. This damper inthe main unit is shown having a mechanical connection generally indicated by rods A23 and 24, to a corresponding element the diagrammatic unit. This invention is intended to cover, however, any and all other mean-s of connection between said dampers which might proveapplicable to a practical installation. The position of main Adamper is thus indicated to the operator by means of the 5diagrammatic damper on the small scale unit.

F or further indicating conditions within the power unit on the diagrammatic unit, another `inea-ns is provided inthe lform of a periscope 25.V This device consists of a tube placed in the setting of boiler furnace at a point where the conditionof the furnace gases maybe observed, foi-example as to smoke. In the :opposite wall of said fornace is placed a powerful velectric lamp QGshown connected to source of current 18 by conductorsf2?. The tube of periscope 25 is connected to the diagramma-tie iinit'by means of reflectors 29 and connecting'tubing '30. It is Aobvious that, by looking into the tube 28, the lamp Q6 will be visible and that any cloud 'of smoke or dust will ali'ect the brilliancy of said lamp and be indication of the condition ol the furnace gases at this point. While the described method of presenting' an indication 'oit conditions in the power unit ifs a practical one, it is the purpose of this inventori to kcov-er and all means of communicating lsuch indications from 'a power unit to a diagrammatic unit or portion thereof.

The method of indicating the magnitude of some functions of the power unit on the diagrammatic unit is generallv indicated by the Venturi tube 10 and the U- tube 13. U tube 13 may be `diagrammatically 'connected to Venturi tube-10 of diagrammatic unit but is operatively connected by tubes 11 and 12 so that the flow of steam from the main boiler will cause a depression in one leg of the U tube and a corresponding elevation in the other leg of the tube. By means of a properly calibrated scale a reading of the rate of flow of steam may be obtained.

The term operative connection, used herein, is intended to define any connection such as piping, electric wiring, levers or relay system whereby a force or movement is transmitted between the apparatus connected.

For the sake of simplicity the drawings have been made largely diagrammatic. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to its preferred embodiment but that the various instrumentalities diagrammatically illustrated may be variously constructed, and that the invention may be embodied in other structures within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. The combination with a steam boiler and furnace and a diagrammatic representation thereof, of means for indicating on said diagrammatic representation, the conditions in said boiler and furnace, and means for controlling said indicating means in accordance with variations of said conditions.

2. The combination with a boiler and furnace having auxiliaries, such as an induced-draft fan, a diagrammatic representation of said boiler and furnace including models of said auxiliaries, of means for operatively connecting said models to said auxiliaries whereby said models indicate the speeds or conditions of said auxiliaries.

3. The combine tion with a furnace and a diagrammatic representation thereof, of means on said diagrammatic representation for indicating the operating conditions in said furnace by similar conditions in the diagrammatic representation and operative connections between said furnace and said indicating means.

Il. The combination with a steam-producing unit, of means for measuring the steam flow therefrom, a diagrammatic representation of said unit including diagrammatic measuring means and actual steam-flow. in-

dicating means and operative connections between said steam-flow measuring means and said steam-How indicating element on said diagrammatic representation.

5. The combination with a boiler furnace,

a diagrammatic representation of said furnace, means for registering an indication of a condition of said furnace, means for transmitting said indication to said diagrammatic representation and means for registering a similar indication on said diagrammatic representation, to make the processes taking place inthe main unit observable on a corresponding portion of diagrammatic representation.

6. The combination with a power-producing unit, of a diagrammatic representation of parts of said unit, means for indicating on said diagrammatic representation, the conditions existing in said unit, an operative connection between said diagrammatic representation and said unit and means for cansing the conditions existing in said unit to Vset up a similar condition in said diagrammatic representation.

7. The combination of a power-producing or power-consuming unit, a diagrammatic representation of one or more operative portions of said power unit, an operative connection between one or more operative portions of said unit and the corresponding portions of said diagrammatic unit, whereby any change in the position of or the relation between said portion and any other portion of said power unit, will cause a similar change in the position or relation of the corresponding portion of the diagrammatic unit.

8. The method of power metering which consists in operatively connecting one or more elements of a main power unit to similar elements of a diagrammatic unit in such manner as to cause a visible representation of conditions existing in the main power unit to appear in the diagrammatic unit.

9. In a system of metering for power-producing or power-using apparatus, a diagrammatic unit so constructed that the various operative elements or functions of the main unit are diagrammatically represented thereon, and means for causing the elements or functions of said nnit to present a visible indication of the true or relative value of similar elements or functions in said apparatus.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

MERRILL G. BENJAMIN. 

